How to Respond Boldly When Shift Happens

When shift happens in your life and your career, are you ready to enact the bold moves? Or, do you pump your fists, shed a few tears and then continue life and job search strategy as usual?

Lethargy and frustration infect our bodies and our minds when we realize our fitness and nutrition routines are lagging and our jobs are stagnant, untenable and/or overwhelming. Tired and fearful, we step into familiar routines to negate the pain and hope to move forward into more energizing results. While this may work for some, the likelihood of a sustainably invigorating and satisfying result is modest, at best.

Our personal lives and work lives are tightly interwoven. Ignoring this fact will ultimately create inner conflict and discontent.

So, how do we respond to the shift of our personal and professional lives — that palpable feeling we get, whether we are 25, 45 or 65, when we know something has to give; are we ready for transformation? Following are six tips:

1. Sick and tired of being sick and tired? You must acknowledge–and act upon–the poignant signals your body, and mind, are presenting to you. Dig deep, research what your needs are, and begin your change, now. Resources abound. Most recently, I read about a program called Whole30 (hat tip, Walter Akana). This is just one of dozens (perhaps hundreds) of resources you can tap into to take charge of your life, and your health.

2. Are you happy where you live? No? Then make a plan to move. Begin outlining action steps, and a plan to execute, today. Whether you want to live in a warmer city, move closer to family, scale down your overhead or live on a boat, figure out the steps in between where you are now and where you want to be, and start taking them. My husband/business partner and I have personal experience with this. Read about it here: Harvesting Our Dreams in Lake Texoma.

3. Is your career in a slump? If you feel your boss undermining your goals, the company veering off track culturally or strategically, or you simply have outgrown your role with nowhere left to go, then do something. Research target companies that have the culture, amenities and career opportunities you seek. Start by researching Glassdoor reviews and take a look at their list of Top Companies for Culture & Values. Read a career strategy book and act on the suggestions. Hire a career storyteller to piece together the patchwork of your career in a way that makes sense to those companies you so desire to work for, and attract. Be proactive.

4. Don’t let frustration, fear and the hard yards get the best of you. Starting a new food and/or fitness regimen isn’t easy, but it is meaningful and rewarding. When you hit a roadblock; e.g., you are bored with your food choices or the squats are too hard, don’t give up. Keep trying; you will push through the wall, and you will be glad you did. Find friends, colleagues, family to support you in your goals. Groaning and kvetching are acceptable in small doses, but then pull up your boots and keep going. Put a smile on your face, and choose optimism. This behavior will beget optimism.

5. Be willing to face, and embrace your fear. Afraid to stop and examine where you have been and where you want to go? Fearful that if you don’t just ‘keep propelling forward’ you will fade away? In fact, moving forward sometimes requires a look into the rearview mirror. As one career resume client shared with me recently, “The conversation around my career is energizing, a way of stepping back and looking at the journey and putting it in perspective.” Another client shared that self-updating his own resume over the past five years resulted in a story with arms and legs; thus, he needed to slow down, call me to help him prune, reorganize and re-strategize — to set a new course.

Finally, to quote another client, “one of the casualties of being dammed up (in my career) is the harm to my self-confidence. The process of thinking through my career successes reminds me of the good stuff I have accomplished – it is restorative.”

And only through a healthier career attitude can you best present yourself to potential hiring decision makers.

Comments

Awesome post, Jacqui! Shift does happen, and when it catches us by surprise it can be truly disorienting — and send us on an emotional roller coaster that leaves us mostly spinning our wheels.

Change really is a challenge, and yet the tips you provide here are key to stepping up and taking control for self-directed and positive change!

By the way, I really appreciate the hat tip regarding Whole 30. Your points related to nutrition and fitness are clearly on the mark! People have always suspected that great health is a key component in success. Yet, I think that today, more than ever, this is taking on greater significance and urgency!!

Hi Walter!
Thanks again for introducing me to the idea of Whole30. Their website, and affiliated book, “It Starts With Food” are both so muscular! The tone of their writing is strong and also laced with just the right amount of ‘light’ humor.

Wow – you hit the nail on the head – shift can be ‘truly disorienting’ and an ’emotional rollercoaster.’ (I am often reminded of that in my own life; as well, I witness it in career clients’ lives, as I imagine you do with your clients.)

Again, thank you for the insights and information you have shared, and which I was happy to link to in this post. Thank you for taking time to offer your invigorating comment!

Good points, Walter! I usually get glossy-eyed reading the technical aspects of these nutritional/science-based books, but this author makes learning fun!

And, YEP, you have that right regarding the seduction of corporate America and how it affects our self-care behaviors. I am also encouraged by the drumbeat by more writers and advocates regarding how well-being is tied to success (personal and business).

I appreciate all the value you add to this blog with your extended insights!

So true, Jacqui! The Hartwigs write in a very friendly manner and do interlace technical information with great metaphors and respect for the reader’s intelligence.

Regarding success, I think that there has been and continues to be a disconnect between well-being, performance, and success. Many of us live in a culture of stress where we tend to make choices that are easy (even mindless). Unfortunately, easy choices don’t help us. Rather, they more often feed continued stress and frustration.

It’s amazing to me, that even in our roles as career/success coaches we may want to consider expanding our roles to help people assess how their well-being plays into their career/life fulfillment and overall success – and take steps to better manage it!!

Your sharing of your clients’ insights demonstrates the important role that you play in a successful career hunting strategy.

I think we all have the answers within, sometimes we need someone to be our “witness” – to sit quietly and listen as we work things out, gently prodding us along with questions that tease out the answers. Could that be you? 🙂

I like what you said about groaning and kvetching – small doses only! It can trigger the stress response, which is exactly what someone looking for a new position doesn’t need – more stress. It drains energy and diverts your attention.

I like Walter’s comment about how self-care is sacrificed to the altar of corporate performance. How many people get their self-esteem solely from work? Then when that position disappears, so too does their self-esteem. Self-care is a skill that is invaluable if one is to weather the storms of life.

I am totally embracing your insight that “we all have the answers within … sometimes we need someone to be our ‘witness’ (and how you tied that to what I am called to do with/for my clients). Thank you!

As well, your capturing the essence of the groaning/kvetching aspect is not surprising, considering the attention and knowledge you provide on the subject of ‘stress'” (and how to minimize its impact on our lives).

Finally, I agree with you regarding Walter’s comment – and that self-care is an invaluable skill to weather the storms of life!